Often times as you scroll through Instagram, it becomes very apparent that many posts are either on one nutritional spectrum or the other. You see a decadent overflowing milkshake topped with cookies and cake, followed by a green smoothie bowl with every “nutrition boosting” topping under the sun.

It seems like the more extravagant the food, the crazier people respond to it.

What that means is that normal, everyday meals that most of us eat are often overshadowed and forgotten in the world of social media. And since social media plays such a huge part in our lives, we often forget to appreciate those regular, everyday meals we are having.

It’s easy to get caught up in the fact that your meals aren’t looking beautifully Instagram-able on a daily basis. We all have that little part of us caught in that comparison trap of “keeping up with the Joneses,” because we are human.

In this world of elaborate desserts and pricey whole food smoothies, how do we find that middle ground in nutrition?

How do we realize that we are doing just fine and are perfectly normal for where we are at right now? That our bowls don’t need to look like the cover of a magazine every time we eat. That if we get out of our own heads, we can realize we don’t have to be one extreme or the other. We can live in this middle ground of nutrition and eating, and as a result, have a more pleasurable experience around food.

So how do we get to that place? What does this middle ground of nutrition look like?

It will look differently for everyone, but the common theme is that you can bounce back and forth between the two ends of the spectrum when the opportunity arises, and live in the middle on most days. So when that hip, new acai bowl shop opens up in town, try it out if you feel like it!

Or, when you’re visiting a new city and they have a famous extravagant dessert place, go for it! Realize that you don’t have to live one extreme or the other to feel validated; you can live in that middle ground of normalcy and messiness, and still be OK.

From the outside, the middle ground may seem boring and unimportant, but it’s far from it. The meals that make you feel good, taste good, and satisfy you on a daily basis is what sustains your life.

That sounds pretty exciting and important, doesn’t it?

Take the pressure off of being Instagram-worthy, and focus on your inner self and how the food you’re eating makes you feel. That’s when we starting hitting the sweet spot: the middle ground. Not every meal will be (nor should it be) glamorous. Not every meal is going to be perfect. By taking away that pressure, you’ll remove the stress off yourself, and begin to find what works for you and your body.

It’s the messy bowls and quick weeknight dinners. It’s grabbing coffee with friends on a Saturday afternoon. It’s your everyday self and all the stuff that comes with it. Be proud of your middle ground, and what it looks like for you.

It’s keeping you alive and healthy.

Emily Holdorf, MS, RDN is a Charlotte, NC-based private practice dietitian on a mission to empower others to live a healthier, happier life. By emphasizing a non-diet approach to eating, Emily helps individuals form a better relationship with food by focusing on why there’s room for every food in moderation. Find out more about about Emily at EmPowered Nutrition.